Zohran Mamdani warns World Cup fans in New York of ‘scammers’ with quirky video

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25 Jun 2026 • 11:22 AM MYT
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Image from: Zohran Mamdani warns World Cup fans in New York of ‘scammers’ with quirky video
Photo by Selcuk Acar/Anadolu via Getty Images

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has issued a major warning amid the FIFA World Cup.

NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani has made several headlines outside of politics over the last month or so, primarily for being an active supporter of the New York Knicks.

However, Mamdani has now shifted his focus to the 2026 FIFA World Cup as NYC is hosting a plethora of matches across the tournament stages.

Image from: Zohran Mamdani warns World Cup fans in New York of ‘scammers’ with quirky video
Photo by Angelina Katsanis/Getty Images

Zohran Mamdani becomes a referee to warn World Cup fans

The US, being one of the hosts of the 2026 World Cup, has seen a rapid rise in soccer fans. Evidently, NYC, being a major host of games, is experiencing this surge as well.

As a result, many businesses have inflated their costs to make a quick buck by scamming customers. Keeping that in mind, Mamdani released a quirky soccer-based video to show the red card to such scammers.

“Scammers, consider this your red card. Report false advertising and deceptive business practices. … World Cup, everyone plays by the rules,” Mamdani wrote on X.

Now, that’s an excellent way to educate soccer fans about their rights using the sport that has brought them to America.

Moreover, Mamdani, wearing a yellow referee costume, blowing a whistle, and showing the red card, certainly gets his point across.

Fans are divided about Zohran Mamdani’s anti-scamming initiative

Being the Mayor of NYC, it’s impossible for Mamdani to make everyone happy, and even his quirky soccer-themed video received mixed reactions from fans on social media.

“So clever, if you have the mind of a child. Get it, red card, scammers, haha,” a fan wrote sarcastically. While another added, “Why don’t you put similar efforts into all the NYC airports, which is full of scam drivers?”

A third fan stated, “How can anyone hate someone fighting for your actual life and rights?” But a fan question, “If everyone has to play by the rules, why doesn’t that include you?”

“I wish we had this kind of mayor as our President,” another fan noted.

Despite there being mixed reactions, the majority seemed positive and loved Mamdani’s campaign against scammers and false advertisements.

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